Grain elevator and cleaner.



c. P. NALL. GRAIN ELEVAOR AND CLEANER.

APrLlcATioN mso JULY 29. |914.

Patented Nov. 2.6, 1918.

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C. P. NALL. v

GRAIN ELEVATOR AND CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED HJLY29. 19N.

Patented Nov. 26, 1918.

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CHARLES l?.

NALE, OE MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, AssIsNoE fro'NALL sEPAEAfroR AND j ELEVATOE COMPANY, :A CORPORATION 0E SOUTH DAKOTA.

GRAIN ELE-vieron AND CLEANER. j

vide asimple and highly eflicient pneumaticelevator and separator especially adapted for handling grain, but alsoV adapted for handling of various other materials capable of. being transported by suction, and which it may be desired, either to elevate, or to elevate and separate into different grades or degrees of neness, quality, or

, kind.

Generally stated, J[he invention consists of the'novel devices and combination of devices hereinafterl described and definedl in the claims.

In the accompanying drawingsl which illustratethe" invention, like characters 'in-v dicate like parts throughout` the" several views.

Referring tothe drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation with some parts sectioned, showing the improved ap# paratus;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on the line :r2 m2 on Fig. 4; y

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectionl taken on the line ma lm3 on Fig. 2. some parts being shownA in full.

Fig. 4l shows the hopper andl immediately associated parts of the apparatus, partly in vertical `section and partly in elevation;

Fig.. 5 is a horizontal section taken approximately on the line :v5 m5 on'Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a'horizontal section taken on the line'mG on Fig. 4; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view'sho'wing the end of one of the suction spouts partly in` elevationl and partly in `vertical section on the linef x7 on Fig. 4.

The numeral 1 indicates a largehopper which is held in an elevated position ou suitable supports 2 andv is provided with a contracted depending discharge spout f3 that is preferably made rectangular in horizontal Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 26, 1918.

Application led July 29, 1914. Se1ia1 No. 853,885.

section. rIhis spout 3 is normally closed by a gate or'drop bottom 4 that is hinged-to the upper spout 3 at 5 and is provided with a projecting arm 6 on which a weight 7 is adjustablyniOunted.` Extending across the intermediate portion of the hopper 1 is a deep grate 8 made'up of transversely inter` A secting slats, preferably constructed after the manner of the intersecting partitions of an egg crate, but preferablyA madeupfrom thin sheetymetal strips.

The'top of the hopper lois closed by a top plate 9 that is provided with two' iei'rible diaphragins 10. Through the diaphragms'lO are extended metallic tube sections 11 that`v are `connected with tie joints to, said 'diaphragiiis, preferably by clamping bands 12.

The lower ends of the tube sections 11,

which project into the hopper, are provided with swiveled extensions 13 shown ascolinectedthereto, by swiveled joints formed by overlapped end flanges 14, as best shown in Fig. 7.' The lower ends of the tube extensions 13 are beveled,v as best shown in'y Fig. l4, for a purposewhich willpresently appear.

. '80 Onejof the tube sections 11 isprovided'- with a iiexible suction tube or pipe l5,v thef;

free end ofwhich is portable, so that it 'may' be moved about into engagement with grainl or material to be picked up; The grain or' material to be picked up and elevated is, in

Fig. 1, shown `as in a pile indicated by the character Y.

The other tube section 11 is connected by" a pipe, preferably inthevform of .i fiexible tube 16, to a suction fan or blower 17, which, as shown, discharges through the pipe 1.8'.

In the construction illustrated, the cl`amping rings 12 are pivotally supported by means of trunnions 19 that project diametrically from the same and are journaledv inf suitable bearings 20 on the hopper head9.

Also, as shown. the said clamping rings 12"' are split, and their end-s arevadapted'to be adjustably drawn together by? a threaded stem or clampingl leversl 21. With this arrangement, the tube sections l1 are mounted' for oscillatory movements withy theclamp# ingrings 12 and are'capable of vertical ad justments through., the said clampingrings.` I' also provide means for" adjustably holding the tube sections 11 in various diferent ,angular positions, in respect to eachother and in respect to the axis of the hub 1. The means provided for this purpose comprises as follows:

'1 he numeral 22 indicates the clamping rings applied to the tube sections 11 above the clamping rings 12. The inner portions of the clamping rings 12 are pivotally connected to the lower ends ot slotted two-part extensible links 23, and these extensible links are transverselyv crossed and pivotally connected to the inner portions of upper clarnp ing rings 2Q. A. nut-equipped clamping bolt 24 is passed through the transversely intersecting slots of the links 23, and when tightened, secures the said links together as a truss, which serves to hold the tube sections 11 in the desired relative angular adjustment.

The operation of the apparatus described, is substantially as follows:

Under the strong suction from the fan 17, a partial vacuum will be formed in the closed hopper 1 and this partial vacuum will pick up the grain and draw the same upward through the tube 15 and connected tube 11 into the hopper. rihe heavy grain will be precipitated onto the grate 8 and will fall therethrough into the bottom of the hopper, while the lighter particles, such as chad, dust, and the like will be drawn into the lower end extension 13 of the other or outlet tube 11, and will be carried through the tube 16 to the fan, and from thence it will be discharged through the fan outlet 18. The deep grate 8 cuts oit cross drafts below the upper surface thereof and prevents the grain', which once strikes the grate, from being picked up and carried o through the discharge spout. The grain or material which accumulates in the hopper will fill the lower portion thereof, and eiiectually prevent air from being drawn upward through the hopper discharge spout 3. Vhen the grain Y1 which has accumulated in the hopper, as above stated, acquires sufficient weight, it will torce open the discharge gate 4 and will pass from the hopper down through the discharge spout 3 thereof. The weight I may be adjusted to cause the gate to open under any desired grain pressure. The said is, oit course, entirely automatic in its action in that it opens to permit the required discharge oi'r` grain and closes to maintain the proper accumulation of grain necessary to close the spout 3 against the passage oi air upward therethrough.

The apparatus above described may be used either simply as an elevator, or as a combined elevator and separator. The amount of material drawn oft through the discharge spout from the hopper will, of course, depend in the first instance, upon the Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing' the Commissioner of atents1 1 ,esmas suction force of the fan 17, but with the said fan working at a predetermined pressure, the amount of material drawn oil and. the proportioned amount of material precipitated into the hopper may be regulated by adjustments of the spouts 11 and their extensions 13, in respect to each other. For example, if the device is to be used as a grain elevator, and only for light dust to be carried ott, the lower ends or extensions ot said tube sections l1 should be separated as far as possible from each other, and if desirable or necessary, the swiveled extensions 13 may be rotated so that their beveled faces will be turned away from each other. When it is desired, for example, to separate wild oats and other relatively light grains or seeds from wheat, the beveled sides of the tube extensions 13 should be turned toward each other and adjusted closer together, or probably substantially, as shown in F ig. 4. The separating action may be also varied by vertical adjustments of the tubes 11 through the diaphragms 10 and clamping rings 12.

It will, of course, be understood that this apparat-us may be used for elevation and separation of various materials other than grain, which materials are capable of being elevated by suction and which contain relatively-light and heavy particles.

`What I claim is:

l. In an apparatus of the kind described, the combination with a closed hopper, of suction tubes extending into the same, and means connected to one of said tubes for producing a partial vacuum therein, the ends of said tubes within said hopper having reversely beveled portions.

2. In an apparatus of the kind described, the combination with a closed hopper, of suction tubes extending into the same, and means connected to one of said tubes for producing a partial vacuum therein, the ends of said tubes within said hopper being swiveled and reversely beveled.

3. In an apparatus of the kind described, the combination with a closed hopper, of suction tubes extending into the same, and means connected to one of said tubes for producing a partial vacuum therein, the ends of said tubes within said hopper being adjustable in respect to each other, a deep grate extending across said hopper below the inner ends of said tubes, and the said hopper having a depending discharge spout and a yieldingly closed gate therein.

1n testimony whereof 1 aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES P. NALL.

Witnesses:

F. D. MERCHANT, HARRY D. KILGORE.

Washington, D. C. 

